Villa Park couple mauled by son's dog

VILLA PARK – A man and woman were attacked and seriously injured by their son’s dog on Tuesday morning, forcing authorities to impound the animal.

Rescuers responding to reports of an animal attack at a home in the 9900 block of Oakwood Circle shortly after 11:30 a.m. found a man and woman in their 60s injured after having been attacked by a dog, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said.

OC Animal Care officials described the dog as a brindle shepherd-pit bull mix. The dog, a neutered male about 1 1/2 to 2 years old and 70 to 80 pounds, is a rescue animal owned by the couple’s son, who also lives at the home, authorities said.

The dog had displayed “aggressive behavior” shortly after the son got it, Concialdi said, but had learned to behave itself after being taken to an animal behavioral school. Authorities don’t know what caused the dog to apparently attack the family on Tuesday.

The dog first attacked the father, Concialdi said, at which point his wife tried to intervene. The dog then bit the woman, before latching onto the man’s arm.

A neighbor armed with a hose came to the couple’s aid, Concialdi said, spraying the dog and getting it penned into a closed bedroom.

The man and woman were taken to a hospital. Both suffered dog bites, and the man had “serious injuries” to his arm, Concialdi said.

The dog was impounded and put into a 10-day quarantine while county officials conduct a “dangerous dog” investigation, said Ryan Drabek, director of OC Animal Care.

“The investigation can take several weeks depending on the facts,” Drabek said, adding that they will talk to neighbors and anyone who might have information about the history of the dog.